Sometimes, life changes demand you start to spend less than you earn while bringing in significantly less money. Cutting cable, giving up Internet and changing to a Raman diet can help. They’re just not very comfortable, and besides that, these drastic reductions are usually unnecessary. The truth is many of our daily expenses are negotiable.
Here are a few ways to spend less than you earn without discomfort:
Ask the Grocery Store for Discounts on Expiring Products
As with any question in life, the answer will always be “no” until you ask. With the advent of email, it’s quick and easy to send a letter off to your local store manager requesting a discount on products near to their expiration date. In fact, some supermarkets have policies disallowing the sale of expired goods, meaning savvy customers who search the shelves can pick food up for free. Others offer discounts on dented or otherwise damaged items, despite recent findings that neither wonky containers nor recent expiration dates have much to do with quality.
Demand Lower Rates From Phone, Cable and Internet Providers
Any subscription services that run regular deals have unique pricing schemes allowing for individual customer discounts. Cell phone companies and cable companies have some of the most advanced billing software available, and they’re prepared to haggle in order to compete with the competition. Call and ask to speak with a manager.
Once you have a supervisor on the line, say you’ve received an offer from another company and ask if they would match it, or call a competitor and ask for special rates in order to switch. You may also have good luck from asking about service bundles; just make sure the company is reliable before you enroll in one of their package plans.
Negotiate Housing Payments and Rental Prices
Whether you’re buying or renting, the price you pay each month is somewhat adjustable. You can request a change at any time, and the way you go about it can have long and lasting benefits. First, for those who are buying a home, it may be possible to refinance your loan with no money down and wind up paying less interest.
If you’re renting your home, you can negotiate lower rates based on things like problems in the house that drive up your utility bills, issues needing repair and work you’ve done to increase the value of the property. In certain situations, you can secure lower rent prices by agreeing to a longer lease, though in other markets, your best bet is asking for a rental price freeze. If you’re nervous about making the request, send it in writing along with your rent check.
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Cutting Costs on Special Purchases
In some countries, it’s common practice to barter on the price of every purchase. From dinner to dinnerware, no one is expected to pay full price. While that’s largely frowned upon in American retail stores, there are some exceptions. Any retailer paying employees on commission will be more likely to expect negotiations. Furniture, appliances, cars and other special purchases can often be negotiated down to make them more affordable. This will also lower their monthly payments, if purchased on monthly payment plans.
We hope these tips will help you spend less than you earn without feeling the pinch. However, if you run into the need for emergency funds, Title Tree is always here to help you.
Come in to the Title Tree nearest you, or give us a call at 404-410-6559 to learn more about how to spend less than you earn. You’ll see why we’re known for our excellent customer service – and the best rates in town.